NORTH Yorkshire police have defended their decision to place memorial plaques honouring members of the force who died during the two world wars outside their headquarters.

Mr David Severs, a retired chief superintendant in the force, complained that since the entrance to the police headquarters at Newby Wiske was refurbished, the plaques were moved outside.

The plaques were paid for by colleagues of members who died during the two wars, and a third plaque was also erected in the memory of Maj Sir Robert Lister Bower, who was chief constable of the force from 1898 to 1929.

Mr Severs said: "Designed for internal display vertically, they are now relegated to a site in the gardens where they are displayed horizontally.

"The other day I visited the site. It was a fine evening, but some hours earlier it had rained heavily. All three plaques had some water standing on them and they looked a sorry site.

"The men who died, their families and the members of the force who contributed to the memorials deserve better than this."

But assistant chief constable Mr Peter Walker explained that the plaques were moved outside after a decision was taken to create a memorial garden outside the headquarters two years ago.

He added that extensive inquiries were made before doing this to ensure the plaques would not be adversely affected by weather conditions and pointed out that they were positioned on a slant so water ran off them.

He said: "We believe that we have created a proper and fitting memorial for colleagues who fell in the two wars and to others including those who have fallen in the line of police duty.

"We honour their memory on Remembrance day and our estate staff take particular care to keep the memorial stones clean."

l Letters to the Editor: page 24